adminTake a look around the next time you’re in school, at cross-country practice, or at the movies with friends — the people you see around you make up your “peer group.” They’re the people you see just about every day. Having a peer group means that you get to hang out with people who totally get you and, even better, give you some independence from adults.A peer group can encourage you to do good things like helping others, try new things, or just kick back. But your peers can just as easily try to make you do things that you would never normally do and could potentially harm you. When that happens, what can you do?
The easiest way to deal with peer pressure — the bad kind at least — is to avoid it altogether. Surround yourself with people you like, who like you, and who like doing things you like doing (things that won’t get you grounded for life), and you’ll be far less likely to become a victim of peer pressure. But there is more you can do.
It can be hard to go against the grain and resist social pressure. Here are some tips to make it easier.
Be prepared. Think through situations ahead of time. Plan how you’d say ‘no’ if someone offered you a cigarette, a drink, or a ride with someone who shouldn’t be driving. You can even practice saying them in the mirror. That way, if you find yourself in that situation and you barely have to think, you’ll come off cool and collected, and the folks who are pressuring you will be less likely to push back after you say no.
Avoid it. Try to avoid bad peer pressure by spending time with friends who don’t make you uncomfortable or try to get you to do things you don’t want to.
You can also avoid places where you feel uncomfortable. For example, if a teammate wants to meet in the parking lot to smoke before basketball practice, tell them you have something else to do, but you’ll see them when practice starts. If friends are hanging out at someone’s house before a dance—without any parents around—and you’re worried that they might be up to something, suggest grabbing something to eat at a restaurant. Or, tell them you’ll meet them at the dance.
Be proud. If someone’s trying to get you to do something you know you shouldn’t, or something that makes you feel nervous, say ‘no.’ And be proud that you’re being strong and doing what’s right for you. Stand up straight, make eye contact, and don’t be apologetic for your actions. Rather, you should feel good about what you are doing.
Be a good friend. Don’t ever put a friend in a situation where they feel bad about not wanting to do something that you might want to do. If someone’s trying to pressure your friend, help him or her stand up. You can say, “No thanks. We don’t do that,” or, “Sorry, we’re on our way to the mall.”
Stand up for what’s right. Have you ever been in a situation where your friends started making cruel jokes about someone else at your school? Maybe it was someone who just didn’t seem to “fit in”, or someone with a physical or mental disability. Perhaps you were the one on the receiving end of the laughter. Making fun of someone else isn’t cool. It hurts. It hurts the person being ridiculed because they’re being rejected for who they are. It hurts the person dishing out the abuse because it lowers his or her character. And it hurts the heart of God who made each person in His own image. – teensforlife.com
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter